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Homemade Lawn Irrigation

05-23-2012, 10:10 AM

I have a customer that has a vegetable garden in her back yard that I mow around. A few weeks ago I noticed it wasn't looking to well. I asked if she would be interested in a irriagtion system, one that comes on automatically to where the only time she has to mess with it is if she wants to put plant feed on the veggies or when shes ready to harvest them. She said yeah, can that be done! I told her an inexpensive way, is to use small pvc pipe and drill holes at the location of each plant so it gets watered every day at the same time with a timer. She asked how much I gave her a bid of $250 and she jumped on it faster than a cat on a mouse. I spent $30 on the digital timer and a little over $30 on the PVC. I put it in about an hour and a half, drilled 1/16" holes at each plant location and turned the water on. It works great! The thing has been on now for 2 week and it's showing a noticeable improvement on the veggies. I also buried the pvc in the ground so it can be mowed over, and put a relieve valve on for winter months. I left it all unglued to make it easy to repair or change if need be.<br><br> <a href="http://s1070.photobucket.com/albums/u486/PineHillLawn/?action=view&amp;current=100_2356.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u486/PineHillLawn/100_2356.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Comment

Why did you run the pvc underground? Wouldnt it have been easier to attach a hose there?

Is this any cheaper then a soaker hose?

I ran the PVC underground so it wouldn't be in the way when mowing plus she would have to drag the hose out if it ever becomes disconnected, due to using it somewhere else, and if forgotten, water will go everywhere except the garden. The PVC also feeds off to another Flower bed she has planted, providing water to two areas at the same time. As for a soaker hose, yeah it would be cheaper, but I would have ran into the same issue with a garden hose having to be rolled up when mowing plus the way the rows are planted a few of the plants wouldn't get enough water, and soaker hoses don't last as long as this will. With it hooked up the way it is, she can head off to work at 6:00 and at 6:15 the timer will kick on for 20-30 minutes, providing water to each plant plus that in her flower bed, and she'll never have to lift a finger.

Comment

good work. looks like it works great bud but.........did u know PVC deteriorates from the sun? it will be brittle in a few years to come. sorry......but good work! great idea!

I did the same thing for my flower bed at home over 5 years ago and it still works great. The guy I got the idea from is a plumber friend of mine, who did it 10 years ago in his garden, and it still gets used to this day. I don't know if it gets brittle but I haven't have any issues with the two I know of.

Comment

I have a customer that has a vegetable garden in her back yard that I mow around. A few weeks ago I noticed it wasn't looking to well. I asked if she would be interested in a irriagtion system, one that comes on automatically to where the only time she has to mess with it is if she wants to put plant feed on the veggies or when shes ready to harvest them. She said yeah, can that be done! I told her an inexpensive way, is to use small pvc pipe and drill holes at the location of each plant so it gets watered every day at the same time with a timer. She asked how much I gave her a bid of $250 and she jumped on it faster than a cat on a mouse. I spent $30 on the digital timer and a little over $30 on the PVC. I put it in about an hour and a half, drilled 1/16" holes at each plant location and turned the water on. It works great! The thing has been on now for 2 week and it's showing a noticeable improvement on the veggies. I also buried the pvc in the ground so it can be mowed over, and put a relieve valve on for winter months. I left it all unglued to make it easy to repair or change if need be.<br><br> <a href="http://s1070.photobucket.com/albums/u486/PineHillLawn/?action=view&amp;current=100_2356.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u486/PineHillLawn/100_2356.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

that looks good, but i don't think burring the pipe was a good idea, due to size of the holes. dirt will get in there and you will see problems later on.
there is also drip-pipe starting from a 12'' to 18'' apart every hole.and also
can be moved around at any time, there is some items that will take place of the valve, all you have to is program it and open the water. wont have to worry until the end of season. but you did great job, this is just like a plan b.